Quick take-up mechanism



Aug. 23, 1938. J DE I 2,127,570

QUICK TAKE-UP MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Aug. 23, 1938. R. J. OLANDER QUICK TAKE-UP MECHANISM -Filed Aug. 28, 1955 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 23, 1938 PATET creme V QUICK TAKE-UP MECHANISM Roland J. Olander, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. H. Miner, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application August 28, 1935, Serial No. 38,160 i 13 Claims;

quick take-up mechanism for power multiplying hand brakes for cars, so arranged and designed that the usual slack in the brake mechanism is quickly taken up during the initial operation in applying the brakes, and the full effect of the power multiplication of the mechanism is transmitted to the brake mechanism proper oi the car during final application of the brakes.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for transmitting motion from the winding mechanism of a power multiplying hand brake to the usual chain leading to the brake mechanism proper of a car, comprising a swinging quick take-up device supported from the car, wherein rapid swinging movement of the quick take-up device is effected during the initial application of the brakes by means of a pivoted connecting element, between the usual chain member leading to the winding mechanism of the brakes and the swinging take-up device, so arranged that the eifective point of application of the pulling force is exerted closely adjacent to the pivot of said swinging device, the connecting element being arranged to alter its posittion with reference to the swinging device as application of the brakes progresses to position the effective point of application of the pulling force on said device, at a distance from the pivot point thereof, thereby reducing the speed of swinging movement of the quick take-up device to an extent to efiect transmission of the full amount of power provided by the power multiplying mechanism of the brakes.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through the end portion of a railway car illustrating my improvements in connection therewith, said view being partly broken. Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the improved quick take-up mechanism shown in Figure 1, said sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 22 of Figure 3. Figure 3 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the mechanism shown at the bottom portion of the car in Figure 1, and also shown in Figure 2, looking from right to left in said figures. Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 3, but showing the parts in different positions.

In said drawings, Ill indicates the end portion of a railway car, having a vertical end wall H w on which is mounted the usual platform 12 for the brakeman. The end sill of the car is indicated by l3,

My improved quick take-up means is herein illustrated in connection with a power multiply-171:5 ing hand brake mechanism A of well known type, comprising a worm driven winding element for the brake chain as shown in Patents Nos. 1,974,- 581 and 1,854,804, granted to me. The chain winding element'and associated mechanism of the ilo hand brake A are contained in a housing i l secured to the end wall of the car and said mechanism is actuated by the usual hand wheel l5, as disclosed in the patents hereinbefore referred to. The wormoperated actuating means is con-(n15 nected to the winding element by a lever operated clutch means. In the brake illustrated herein, the clutch operated lever is indicated by 56. The winding element of the power multiplying brake mechanism A has a chain section ll connected thereto, said section being wound on said element when the hand wheel 15 is rotated in brake tightening direction and being unwound therefrom when the hand wheel is rotated in a reverse direction. Motion of the chain ii is transmitted to the chain section 58 leading to the brake mechanism proper of the car, through my improved take-up mechanism.

My improved take-up mechanism comprises broadly a supporting bracket B; a swinging arm C pivotally supported on said bracket; a link D pivoted on said arm; a secondlink" El connecting the link D to the chain leading-to the winding mechanism of the brake; and a guide sheave F rotatably supported on the arm C.

The bracket B, which is of channel shaped cross section, as clearlyshown in Figure 3, is secured to the bottom flanges of the end sill 13 by rivets, or any equivalent well-known securing elements. The side walls 2@2El of the bracket 40 B are'provided with aligned openings ill-2| adapted to accommodate the pivot pin on which the swinging arm C is supported.

The arm C is in '"the form of a fork shaped member having spaced side members 22-22 and a connecting cylindrical hub section 23 at the upper end thereof. The side members 22-42 are provided with lateral extensions 2 i-24 for a purpose hereinafter described. At the lower ends, the arms are provided with aligned pivot pin receiving openings 25-25. The laterally extending portions 2424 of the side members 2222 1 are also provided with aligned openings 2626.

The arm C is swingingly supported from the bracket B by means of a pivot pin 21, extending through the openings 2 l-2l of the bracket B and the openings of the hub section 23 of said arm. As shown most clearly in Figure 3, the pivot pin 21 is held against accidental removal by being provided with a head at one end and a cotter pin at the other end.

The link D comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms 28-28 connected at their lower ends by a cylindrical section 29. The link D is suitably reenforced by transverse webs 3l-3l between the arms 28-28. The link D is pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm C by means of a pin 32 extending through an opening in the section 29 of the link D and the openings -25 of the side members 22-22 of the swinging arm C. The pin 32 is headed at one end and is provided with a securing cotter pin at the other end, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The end link of the brake chain l8, which end link is indicated by 33, is connected to the link D adjacent to the pivot 32 thereof,-by means of a rivet 34; or any other equivalent well-known type of securing element, extending through the opening of the link 33 and through aligned openings in the-side arms 28-28 of thelink D.

The link E, which is pivotally secured to the upper end of the link D, serves to connect the latter to the pull-up chain I! of the brake mechanism. As shown most clearly in Figures 2, 4,

and 5, the lower end portion of the link E is enlarged, as'indicated at 35, said enlarged portion being engaged between the arms 28-28 of the link D; A' pivot pin36 extending through said enlarged portion of the link E and the side arms 28-28 of the link D serves to pivotally connect the links D and E. The upper end portion of the link E is forked, as indicated at 31, to receive the lower end link of the chain [1, said lower end link being anchored by means of a pin 38 extending therethrough and through the arms of the fork 31 of the link E.

The sheave F, which has a groove of sufficient width to accommodate the links of the chain It, is mounted between the lateral projections 24-24 of the side members 22-22 of the arm C and is rotatably supported by means of a short cylindrical shaft member 39, extending through said sheave and the side members 22-22 of the arm C.

The operation of my improved quick take-up mechanism during application of the brakes is as follows: During the initial winding of the chain I! on the winding element of the brake mechanism A, the chain will be pulled upwardly, thereby exerting a pulling action on the links E and D and swinging the arm C on its pivot. At

. the beginning of the brake tightening operation,

the parts are in the positionshown in Figure 2,

Y with the upper end of the link D bearing on the cylindrical portion 23 of the pivoted upper end of the arm C. The effective point of application of the pulling force exerted through the link D is thus closely adjacent to the axis of swinging movement ofthe arm C, thereby causing said arm to swing rapidly toward the right, as viewed in Figure 2, during the first part of the operation. As the pull of the chain II is in a vertical direction, the link D will be held in contact with the cylindrical section 23 of the arm C until the parts reach the position shown in Figure 4. As will be evident, by comparison between Figures 2 and 4,

the relatively great swinging movement of the lower end of the arm C is produced during a relatively short movement of the link D in an upward direction about the pivotal axis of the arm C. When the parts have reached the position shown in Figure 4, the chain 18 will engage between the side walls of the guide groove of the sheave F. During further upward movement of the chain H, the upper end of the link D will swing away from the section 23 of the arm C, thereby re- 5 ducing the amount of quick take-up action. As the arm C continues to swing during the brake tightening operation, the position shown in Figure 5 will be reached, wherein the pulling force is applied to the outer end of the arm C and the 10 chain I8 is in bearing engagement with the sheave F. Inasmuch as the sheave F, on which 'the chain l8- bears, is swung about the pivot 2'! sion of the full power multiplication of the brake mechanism A to the chain [8 and the brake mechanism proper of the car. The link C may 20 swing upwardly beyond the position shown in Figure 5 to assure complete powerful application of the brakes. During such further upward swinging movement there will be substantially no difference in the amount of movement of the chain sections I7 and Hi. The amount of upward swinging movement of the arm C beyond the position shown in Figure 5 depends upon the original amount of slack in the brake chain I8.

I have herein shown and described what I now gg consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes .and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a quick take-up mechanism for .hand brakes for cars, the combination with a pivotally supported swinging arm; of an operating link pivoted to the outer end portion of said, arm, said link being connected to the pulling olement of the hand operated mechanism of the brakes; means connecting said link to the brake mechanism proper of the car; and abutment means on said arm on which said link is adapted to bear to hold said link against rocking move-"' ment with respect to said arm during part of the operation of said take-up mechanism.

2. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes for cars, the combination with a pivotally supported swinging arm; of a link pivoted at one end to the outer end of said arm and connected at the other end to the pulling element of the hand operated mechanism of the brakes; and a flexible element connected to said link between the ends thereof and leading to' 0 the brake mechanism proper of the car.

3. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes for cars, the combination with a chain leading to the pulling mechanism of the brakes, and a chain leading to the brake mechanism" proper of the car; of a swinging arm pivotally supported from the bottom of the'car; a'link connected at one end to the outer end of said arm, said link having the other end thereof con nected to said first named chain, said second named chain being anchored to the link at a point between the ends thereof; and arcuate guide means on said arm for said second named chain.

4. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes for cars, the combination with a chain leading to the pulling mechanism of the brakes, and a chain leading to the brake mechanism proper of the car; of a swinging arm pivotal1y,-

supported from the bottom of the car; a link connected at one end to the outer end of said arm, said link having the other end thereof connected to said first named chain, said second named chain being anchored to the link at a point between the ends thereof; and a guide sheave for said second named chain rotatably supported on said arm.

5. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-up type for railway cars, the combination with 2; depending arm pivotally hung from the bottom of the car; of a link pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of said arm; flexible means connecting the other end of said link to the pull-up mechanism of the brakes; bearing means against which the second named end of said link is adapted to abut; and flexible means leading to the brake mechanism proper and connected to said link between the ends thereof.

6. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-up type for railway cars, the combination with a depending arm pivotally hung from the bottom of the car; of a link pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of said arm; flexible means connecting the other end of said link to the pull-up mechanism of the brakes; bearing means against which the second named end of said link is adapted to abut; flexible means leading to the brake mechanism proper and connected to said link between the ends thereof; and guide means on said arm for said secondnamed flexible means, said guide means being spaced from the pivotal axis of said arm.

'7. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-up type for railway cars, the combination with a swinging arm pivotally supported from the bottom of the car; of a link pivotally connected at its lower end to the outer end of said arm; bearing means on said arm with which the upper end of said link is engageable, said bearing means being concentric with the pivotal axis of said arm; flexible means connecting the upper end of said link to the pull-up mechanism of the brakes; and a flexible connection between said link and the brake mechanism proper of the car.

8. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-up type for railway cars, the combination with a swinging arm pivotally supported from the bottom of the car; of a link pivotally connected at its lower end to the outer end of said arm; means. with which the upper end of said link is engageable to hold said link against swinging movement with respect to said arm during a part of the operation of said take-up mechanism; flexible means connecting the upper end of said link to the pullup mechanism of the brakes; and flexible means anchored to the lower end portion of said link connecting the latter to the brake mechanism proper of the car.

9. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-type for railway cars, the combination with a swinging arm pivotally supported from the bottom of the car; of a link pivotally connected at its lower end to the outer end of said arm; bearing means with which the upper end of said link is engageable, said bearing means being concentric with the pivotal axis of said arm; flexible means connecting the upper end of said link to the pull-up mechanism of the brakes; flexible means connecting the lower end portion of said link to the brake mechanism proper of the car; and guide means on said arm for said last named flexible means.

10. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-up type for railway cars, the combination with a swinging arm pivotally supported from the bottom of the car; of a link pivotally connected at its lower end to the outer end of said arm; bearing means with which the upper end of said link is engageable, said bearing means being concentric with the pivotal axis of said arm; flexible means connecting the upper end of said link to the pull-up mechanism of the brakes; flexible means connecting the lower end portion of said link to the brake mechanism proper of the car; and a guide sheave for said last named flexible means rotatably supported on said arm.

11. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-up type for railway cars, the combination with a pull-up member actuated by the hand brake mechanism;

of a flexible member connected to the brake mechanism proper of the car; and means to which said flexible member is anchored for transmitting motion from said pull-up mechanism to said flexible member, comprising an arm pivotally supported from the bottom of the car, a link pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm and actuated by said pull-up mechanism, and abutment means on said arm at the pivot thereof, said link being of a length to engage said abutment means when swung inwardly toward the pivotal axis of said arm.

12. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-up type for railway cars, the combination with a pull-up member actuated by the hand brake mechanism; of a flexible member connected to the brake mechanism proper of the car; and means to which said flexible member is anchored for transmitting motion from said pull-up mechanism to said flexible member, comprising an arm pivotally supported from the bottom of the car, a link pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm and actuated by said pull-up mechanism, and abutment means on said arm at the pivot thereof, said link being of a length to engage said abutment means when swung inwardly toward the pivotal axis of said arm, and arcuate guide means on said arm remote from the pivot thereof for guiding said flexible member.

13. In a quick take-up mechanism for hand brakes of the power multiplying pull-up type for railway cars, the combination with a flexible pullup member operated by the hand brake mecha nism; of a swingable arm pivotally supported from the bottom of the car; a bearing member on said arm concentric with the axis of swinging movement thereof; a link pivoted at its lower end to the lower end of said arm, said link being of a length to engage with said bearing member, said link having the upper end thereof connected to said pull-up member; a flexible member anchored to said link adjacent to the lower pivoted end thereof; and a guide sheave rotatably supported on said arm at a point between the pivot'of said arm and the pivot of said link and to one side of a common plane intersecting said pivots.

vROLAND J. OLANDER. 

